May 2008

Published on May 6, 2008

Pinckney Closing Historic School
May 6, 2008

PINCKNEY, Mich. – Pinckney Community Schools is closing an elementary school built in 1901, according to the Lansing State Journal.

The district’s proposed spending for the 2008-2009 school year is over budget by $1.9 million, the Journal reported. Hamburg Elementary School was built in 1901 and has been expanded three times. Students have been assigned to two of the district’s other elementary schools, but may also opt to use the schools of choice program, according to the Journal.

BRIMLEY, Mich. – Bay Mills Community College is accepting applications for new charter public high schools that would be aimed at serving urban areas across Michigan, according to the Detroit Examiner.

“The dropout problem in urban areas of Michigan is a serious issue in need of a solution,” said Patrick Shannon, director of charter schools for BMCC, according to the Examiner. “The goal of Bay Mills Community College is to focus our efforts on providing opportunities for secondary public charter schools where they are needed the most.”

BMCC authorizes 37 public charter schools that serve 15,000 students across Michigan, according to the Examiner.

LANSING, Mich. – The chairman of the House School Aid Budget Appropriations Committee said he is in “no hurry” to put the bill to a vote of the full House of Representatives, according to the Michigan Information & Research Service.

“I’m not concerned about putting it out before or after the May revenue estimating conference,” Rep. Matt Gillard, D-Alpena, told MIRS.

Gillard has scheduled two weeks of hearings on the legislation, which has already passed the Michigan Senate, MIRS reported.

The Senate version would increase the amount the state Legislature spends on public schools by nearly $370 million to $13.38 billion, but is $140 million less than the amount Gov. Jennifer Granholm requested, according to MIRS.